Mojgan Sherikpour - Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Alibakhsh Kasaeian - Microbiology Research Center (MRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Majid Pornour - Department of Renewable Energies, Faculty of New Science and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Taherian - Photo Healing and Regeneration Group, Medical Laser Research Center, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

Background: Recently, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known as novel drug delivery agents for anticancer therapy as well as cancer diagnosis. From the group of these nanomaterials, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are important, because of their permeability to cell and nucleus membranes, remarkable photothermal properties, and the ability of drug delivery. Methods: In this study, skin cancer cells (A-375) were treated by different doses of the nanofluid containing functionalized MWCNTs at 12, 24 and 48 hours. Then, the cell viability and cell apoptosis, in comparison with normal cells, were determined by the MTT assay and DAPI staining. Results: In this research, in order to increase the dispersivity, carboxylated functional group (-COOH) was attached to the MWCNT. A stable suspension of MWCNTs-COOH with concentration of 200 μg/ml caused a significant reduced cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Our results showed that the nanofluid, containing MWCNTs-COOH, could be considered as a potent agent in cancer therapy. New strategies must be developed to minimize the concentration along with other novel methods such as photothermal therapy.

Nanofluid; functionalized carbon nanotubes; skin cancer; apoptosis